Phil Scott

Vermont eateries will be able to serve people indoors, lodging facilities can fill more rooms and some out-of-staters will be able to visit without a two-week quarantine, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday. The next step in reopening Vermont comes as the state experiences a localized outbreak in Winooski, where 34 people tested positive for coronavirus Thursday. “I recognize this is…

Vermont is allowing the Department of Motor Vehicles to administer driver’s permits and license tests, Gov. Phil Scott announced Monday, adding that outdoor dining may soon resume as the state slowly eases coronavirus restrictions. Scott said in a news conference that he would detail additional moves for reopening later this week, which, if the data continues to move in...

Vermont gyms, nail salons and in-home services got the green light from Gov. Phil Scott to reopen Friday with capacity limits. “I’m very pleased to see our trends moving in the right direction and we feel comfortable taking additional steps today,” Scott said. “This has affected each and every one of us and we’re showing that together, we can...

Vermont is studying how and when it can open to tourism from neighboring states as coronavirus rates fall in places such as Massachusetts and New York, Gov. Phil Scott said Wednesday. In a news briefing, Scott said his administration was developing benchmarks to determine when it would be “smart and safe” to welcome back out-of-state travelers. “I know how incredibly…

Friday brought mixed news for residents of Vermont, with certain close-contact services allowed to resume but fairs and festivals canceled for the summer. Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said crowd sizes at those events are simply too large and noted there is considerable coronavirus activity in certain portions of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. Additionally, fairs see people from all…

Restaurants can reopen immediately in Vermont with outdoor seating if they’re ready, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday. “I understand it won’t be possible for all restaurants to start today,” Scott said, “but this lets them open up after a very long two months of sacrifice and with bills still coming in and with no income.” The order to reopen...

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is extending the state’s emergency declaration until June 15 and relaxing the stay-at-home advisory. “We’re now two months into the state of emergency but I’ve got to admit, it seems like a year ago. It’s incredible to think back to all that’s happened since early March,” Scott said. “We’ve all been through a lot.” Campgrounds,...

Vermont will begin reopening some businesses on Monday following the stunning shutdowns forced by the coronavirus as the state continues to see promising signs that the worst of the pandemic is over, Gov. Phil Scott said Friday. The governor said that the coronavirus peak has now passed and that he has signed an order allowing manufacturing, construction and distribution businesses…

The governor of Vermont Friday said he will continue taking slow and careful steps to reopen the state’s economy, but has signaled if COVID-19 infections pick up, progress could be dialed back again. “No one wants to get Vermont back to work more than me,” said Gov. Phil Scott. “But as we do, we must outsmart and beat this...

Officials in Vermont urged residents unable to connect to the internet to contact authorities in an effort more make sure everyone can access vital resources amid the coronavirus pandemic. During a news conference, June Tierney, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service, said those without connectivity should call the DPS, which would work to help them. Such residents could…

The number of people in Vermont who have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, now stands at 38, according to numbers released Monday by the Department of Health. There are now 816 people who have tested positive for COVID-19. During a Monday news conference with Gov. Phil Scott, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said although…

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott outlined a five-step process to restart the state’s economy Friday after health officials determined they have reached their peak in coronavirus cases. “While these trends are encouraging, I want to be clear – we’re not declaring victory because we’re not out of the woods yet,” Scott said, “but we are seeing some daylight. Here’s what’s...

Vermont officials are seeing a plateau in the number of coronavirus cases, with under five percent of tests coming back positive each day, officials said. As of Wednesday, the state had reported 752 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, including 29 fatal cases. “There’s clearly a tendency towards a plateauing,” Health Commissioner Mark Levine said in a…

Gov. Phil Scott on Friday extended Vermont’s state of emergency until May 15. It had been set to expire on April 15. The state of emergency includes the stay-at-home order. Schools remain dismissed through the end of the school year. “I know how disappointing this is to many, if some were hoping we could magically flip a switch and go…

Gov. Phil Scott on Wednesday said he would extend Vermont’s state-of-emergency order later this week as the number of novel coronavirus cases in the state surpassed 600. In a press conference, Scott said he would announce the extension and provide further details Friday. Scott said social distancing measures had helped slow the spread of COVID-19, adding that data showed over…

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has written the White House to request a federal disaster declaration that would help him recoup some of the small state’s costs of preparing for the coronavirus crisis. Vermont said it has already spent well over $20 million in response costs. “The COVID-19 disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the…